Nena

Our churcherecently shouted out a request for host families to put up members of African Childrens Choir.  What a perfect excuse to iron my sheets!  So I shouted back "I'll take them!"  And thus, I shared my home for one too short night with Ivy, Deborah and Faith all of whom Magdelyn quickly began calling "Nena."    

As an experienced billet (I've accumulated months worth of nights spent in random strangers homes) I know what makes a billeting experience stand out.

1.  A clean house

2.  Normal food (avoid casseroles)

3.  No socializing pressure

And so - I scrubbed my tubs and floors.  Washed and ironed my sheets (twice since Tim crawled into the freshend spare bed for a nap) and planned a kid friendly meal plus a trip to the park.  Magdelyn, as usual, was thrilled with company.  I suspect she'll be a hostess with the mostess herself one day. 

This is Ivy, who in particular had a special way with Magdelyn.

I never knew

I never knew the day would arrive where I was so accustomed to child locks on cupboards that the ones without would throw me off.

That I'd feel worse about her being sick then the puke I was cleaning,

That the smell of her pooh would bother me as much as the smell of my own (Tim's is way grosser),

That, no matter where we are, she'd always be the most interesting person in the room to me,

That I'd love nap time as much as I do,

That when she gets hurt my stomach drops like I'd just received traumatic news,

That hearing her sing would be even better then hearing her talk,

That I'd find every developmental stage so intriguing, even the running away from me in the grocery store stage,

That I'd be so happy for her blue eyes - despite praying for brown ones.

That I'd know all the "Wiggles" by name

And, I certainly never knew that this level of love even existed.

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I had such a happy mothers day. Tim banished me to the front porch with a book and instructed me to do nothing...all blessed afternoon. I adore my family. I wouldn't trade them for the world. This evening Magdelyns heros [cousins] came over with their parents and mine and we had a potluck. As they were leaving Magdelyn pronounced "Everyone went away." Indeed they had, and it was well past her 7pm bedtime.

"Being a mom is like going to Europe. You think the books have prepared you, but nothing compares to seeing it firsthand." H.Epp

Icing on the cake

Everyday feels like icing. But a picnic on the beach with the Emme's on a warm spring evening? That's icing on the icing. Little miss must-be-clean even played!


This is Emme #3. She's nearly dropped the Emme now in favor of actually calling him Ryder. She LOVES him and he's SO good to her. Seriously, if I could have kids as kind and gentle as the Emme's I'd be a very very happy mom.

Easter

Magdelyn 'got' Easter this year. She called out HAPPY! as we were welcomed into my parents home for the annual Easter Egg hunt. As my brother reviewed the rules, she snuck to the front of the line and barreled out the door when he opened it. She didn't know what she was looking for until we pointed her in the right direction, but was right in the game when she wasn't being distracted by the swing or rocks.

She'd practiced the night before at the Epp family easter egg hunt. She shares the attention at the Wiebe household with five other cousins, but at the Epp egg hunt - she was the sole participant.

Exciting green gummy bear.

Halloween

My dear child was a chicken for Halloween. We practiced the 'bok bok' and she performed flawlessly. As per tradition, our trick or treating home base was Kris and Lisa's (my brother and sil). Magdelyn wasn't quite ready to knock on doors but she was thrilled to go along for the ride.


She also welcomed other creatures into her wagon when they got tired. This is Oct 31st.

2 weeks ago she found her costume in her closet. Since then she's brought it to both me and her daddy and insisted we put it on her. One day she KNEW we were going out and was FURIOUS I wouldn't put her in the chicken suit. (Honestly, if she were 3 I may have let her, but who would believe that my 15 month old INSISTED she wear a chicken suit). Tonight I indulged and put it on over her kitty jammies. She meow'd and bok'd in sequence. Meow, meow, bok. Meow, bok bok. She was pleased to be wearing both sounds. This is Jan 2nd.


My favorite part is that this is the first time she's gotten the camera smile down. Up until this point she's opened her mouth wide for the camera, but I captured her very first cheese -- in a chicken suit. Perfect.